In the first match under Diniz’s leadership, Brazil made its qualifying debut by defeating Bolivia

In the first match under Diniz’s leadership, Brazil made its qualifying debut by defeating Bolivia


The match marked the debut of Fernando Diniz in charge of Amarelinha and also the return of Neymar




Brazil gave Bolivia no chance on Friday evening (8). At the Estádio do Mangueirão, in Belém, the team led by Fernando Diniz beat their rivals 5 to 1: the match was valid for the first round of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

The match marked the debut of Fernando Diniz as Amarelinha coach and also the return of Neymar, who played his first match for the Seleção since they were eliminated at the 2022 World Cup by Croatia.

Rodrygo (twice), Raphinha and Neymar himself (twice) – who according to FIFA calculations has surpassed Pelé in the Seleção’s historic artillery – scored the home team’s goals. Ábrego scored for the Bolivians.





Cars, helicopters, houses and yachts: discover Neymar's properties
Cars, helicopters, houses and yachts: discover Neymar’s properties

Brazil’s next match in the qualifiers will be in Lima, against Peru, on Tuesday at 11pm (Brasilia time) (12). Bolivia, however, will face Argentina at the altitude of La Paz on the same day, but at 5pm.

The game – The first dangerous opportunity of the match came after just two minutes. Neymar starts in the center and is pulled by the Bolivian defense: foul signed by Juan Gabriel Benítez. At the moment of sanctioning the infringement, it was the number 10 himself who kicked and, with a low shot, hit the net from outside.

At the 10th minute, further cries of ‘almost’ from the throbbing fans of Mangueirão: Neymar takes a corner and Richarlison leaps over the defense to head the ball, but Viscarra takes the ‘gasp’ and saves. Three minutes later a penalty arrives for Brazil: Rodrygo attempts a cross into the area, Justino slips into the area and the ball hits the defender’s open arm.

Neymar went to the spot and had the chance, according to FIFA’s calculations, to surpass Pelé and become the greatest goalscorer in Amarelinha’s history. But the number 10 hits badly, low and without strength, and Viscarra takes the penalty.

However, Brazil continued to overtake Bolivia. The result of the pressure comes in the 23rd minute: Danilo sends a beautiful pass to Raphinha inside the area and the Barcelona player sends in a cross, blocked by the Bolivian archer. On the rebound, however, the ball was blocked by Rodrygo’s free kick who, under the posts, had no difficulty finding the net: 1-0.

In the rest of the initial phase, Raphinha closes firmly at 33, but Viscarra saves; three minutes later, Richarlison headed the Bolivian goalkeeper, who made a beautiful save; at 40′, Neymar made a nice individual play from midfield, left a line of defenders behind him and, face to face with the archer, shot weakly; Both Rodrygo and Renan Lodi stopped in Viscarra during injury time.





Who is Fernando Diniz, the new coach of the Brazilian national team
Who is Fernando Diniz, the new coach of the Brazilian national team

2nd half

In the second minute of the final phase, Brazil increased its lead. Raphinha launches himself on Fernández’s mark, invades the area, cuts inside and crosses. Viscarra tries, but he fails to score: 2-0.

Shortly after, Richarlison had a great chance to score the third. Raphinha received the ball deep in the area and headed inside, triggering the “Pombo”. The center forward dominated well and made the cut but, when it came to scoring a 10, he isolated himself.

The one who didn’t waste it was Rodrygo. At seven, Bruno Guimarães provided a great assist for the number 11, who only had the task of wrong-footing Viscarra and scoring the third.

Neymar’s record goal came at the age of 15. Raphinha does not give up on the action on the right and launches into the area. Rodrygo dominated and dribbled in a short space, being brought down by the Bolivian defense: before the penalty could be awarded, Neymar took advantage of the surplus and found the net. To celebrate, he punches the air like Pelé did.

17 minutes after Neymar’s goal, Bolivia managed to block Ederson’s first shot on goal. Ábrego receives the ball deep, advances with the ball and makes a perfect conclusion, with no escape for the Brazilian archer: 4-1.

There was still time for Brazil to score another in stoppage time. Rafhinha crosses into the area and Neymar strikes first; Viscarra, in a common mistake, lets himself pass and fails to block the defense.

DATA SHEET

BRAZIL 5 X 1 BOLIVIA

Local: Mangueirão, in Belém (PA)

Date: Friday 8 September 2023

Time: 9.45pm (Brasilia time)

Referee: Juan Gabriel Benítez (PAR)

Assistants: Eduardo Cardozo (PAR) and Milciades Saldivar (PAR)

VAR: Carlos Benitez (PAR)

Yellow cards: Neymar (Brazil); Marcelo Moreno and Ursino (Bolivia)

Public: 43,138

Income: R$ 10,877,550.00

Goals: Rodrygo, at 23 minutes of the 1st Q and 7 minutes of the 2nd Q, Raphinha, at 2 minutes of the 2nd Q and Neymar, at 15 and 47 minutes of the 2nd Q (Brazil); Ábrego, 32′ of the 2nd quarter (Bolivia)

BRAZIL: Ederson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães (Ibañez) and Renan Lodi (Caio Henrique); Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães (Joelinton) and Neymar; Raphinha, Rodrygo (Gabriel Jesus) and Richarlison (Matheus Cunha)

Technician: Fernando Diniz

BOLIVIA: Viscarra; Quinteros, Jusino and Marcelo Suárez; Medina, Villamil, Bejarano (H. Cuéllar), Cespedes (Ursino) and Fernández (Carlos Roca); Arrascaita (J. Cuéllar) and Marcelo Moreno (Ábrego)

Technician: Gustavo Costa

Source: Terra

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